Wa youth defy ban on use of firecrackers

Wa (Upper West) 28 Dec. '99 - Contrary to the statement issued by the Ministry of Trade and Industry banning the importation, sale, possession and use of firecrackers, most people in the Wa township defied the warning and fired the crackers at moving vehicles and processions during the Christmas festivities.

On Friday 24 December, and Christmas day, 25 December, a group of boys moved from place to place firing the crackers at moving vehicles, people at drinking spots and worshippers, who were in a procession to the Wa Catholic Cathedral.

The few soldiers of the Airborne Force, based at Wa, had to be called in to disperse the culprits and seize the firecrackers.

At drinking spots and dance halls, the situation was not different. Master Kodwo Ampofo, a 25-year-old second-hand clothes seller who, in an attempt to stop the boys from firing the crackers, was assaulted and had his bicycle damaged.

Reacting to the issue in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Inspector Daniel Dorkpoh, Upper West Regional Police Public Relations Officer, said the situation was not only disgusting but posed a security risk in the Wa township.

He said most of the firecrackers sounded like the "AK 47" rifle and explained that the Regional Police could not detail personnel to monitor the activities of the boys due to the conflicting statements issued by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament concerning the sale, possession and use of firecrackers.

He, therefore, called on both the Ministry and Parliament to clear the air on the sale, possession and use of firecrackers to enable the police to act accordingly.

"Right now we are all confused because of the two statements and until they come out clearly we cannot act,'' he said.